In the News

Fish Talk in the News – Friday, September 14

Viewing or photographing the ocean is the top activity for U.S. ocean lovers according to the National Ocean Recreation Expenditure Survey from NOAA. The survey says that in 2012, “nearly 49 million adults over 18 years of age nationwide participated in ocean and coastal recreation, spending more than 1.2 billion days along the coasts and spending over $141 billion in ocean recreation-related goods and services.” In the New England region, the survey reported “5.6 million ocean recreation participants spending 135 million days and $11 billion along New England’s coast, which is about 7 percent of the U.S. ocean shoreline.”

Fishermen have harvested 97 percent of their herring quota in the inshore Gulf of Maine, which includes coastal Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. As a result, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has closed the fishery for the rest of September. Vessels targeting other species will be allowed 2,000 pounds of herring per trip per day.

After the first month of a new tariff on U.S. live lobster, exports to China hit a two-year low, reports the Sun Journal. The $4.2 million worth of live lobsters sent to China in July represents a 64 percent decline from May and June. The industry continues to meet with politicians asking for their help to repeal U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.

Elected officials from New Bedford are pushing to relocate the Northeast Fisheries Science Center from Woods Hole to New Bedford. In a letter sent to Acting Administrator Rear Admiral Gallaudet, the officials argued “the change will help the federal government to more effectively engage with members of an active fishing community,” reports the Gloucester Daily Times.